BIO, HISTORY and more...

BIO - short

The Levins are a harmony-driven acoustic duo known for their sun-splashed, peace infused songwriting that connects on a universal level and celebrates our common humanity. These award winners (Indie Acoustic, Empower Music, CTFolk, S.Florida Festival, MASC) were 2017 SERFA and 2016 NERFA Formal Showcase Artists and 2014 Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists. Unique harmonies and tightly blended unison vocals, along with their guitar and piano interplay, reflect the couples own compatible musical/personal relationship which began after meeting at an open mic at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley CA. Their My Friend Hafiz CD debuted in the top 20 on Folk DJ & their latest, TRUST, in the top 10. (Top 10 song/2015, J.Platt, WFUV) and "underscores the positive messages of love, peace and self-awareness. Each tune serves as another stepping stone toward a better day & a richer life." Tom Staudter.

“The Levins are originals! Interlocking vocals – counter singing – these two sound like multiple vocals and I can think of no one who writes tunes in this fashion. It’s almost as if they have created a new “classical” music.” - John Apice, No Depression -

A LITTLE HISTORY….

Ira and Julia met at an open mic at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA. It was a singer-songwriter competition held by the West Coast Songwriter's Organization of which they were both members at the time. They married in 2002 and in late 2010, they left their respective bands ( Vocolot-Julia and Comfy Chair - Ira) as well as their comfort zones on the west coast and moved to NY to pursue music full time, together.

Their recordings have garnered invitations to perform in Amsterdam, England and throughout the U.S. In addition to winning the emPower Music award for Uniting, these two are Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists and South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Finalists and have received recognition and numerous songwriting awards in the Children's, Jewish, Folk and now Indie music markets and communities.

Their 2013 release, "My Friend Hafiz", is inspired by Daniel Ladinsky's renditions of the mystic poetry, was selected by John Platt, WFUC as a top 10 CD of 2013 and just recently reviewed as 'lyrical pearls of wisdom," in Science of Mind Magazine. Their 2015 release, "Trust", debuted in the Top 10 Folk charts, Top 20 Roots charts and according to Tom Staudter, former NY Times reviewer, has, "a sun-splashed style that underscores the positive messages of love, peace and self-awareness. each tune serves as another stepping stone toward a better day & a richer life." As performers with interfaith roots, they move comfortably between faiths and spiritual settings, upholding the spirit of humanity and bridging communities offering music, message and programming that spreads good energy and opportunities to transform, heal or be uplifted.

Regardless of the setting, The Levins offer harmony-driven heart healing acoustic music that connects on a universal level and celebrates our common humanity. Guitar and piano with seamless harmonies and tightly blended unison vocals reflect their own compatible musical and personal relationship.

QUOTES / PRESS

"The songwriting is alluring, the vocals seem like one-blended, their playing and stage presence just perfect. In the pantheon of husband-wife duos, in any genre of music, run the tape and see....this duo is how it is done." -Vance Gilbert

"The Levins speak to our better selves with their crystalline harmonies and uplifting lyrics.” - John Platt, WFUV-FM

"The Levins are folk-music gurus! Their new CD "Trust" features gorgeous melodies and inspirational lyrics guaranteed to lift the heart and soul.”- Joltin Joe Pszonek, Radio Nowhere, WMSC-FM

"Everyone needs this music!" -Larry Kelp, KPFA FM

"The Levins have that all-too-rare combination of upbeat, sonically-active lyrics set to harmonically interesting music, presented with a professional and engaging stage presence. " - Bill Pere, 2012 Grammy Winner, L.U.N.C.H.

"Their voices fit together, like water and ice, like heat and steam. Something joyful explodes inside the listeners chest like a Roman candle. Their effect may, in fact, begin before they start to play. Even at first glance, Ira and Julia seem to radiate a positive energy. That 'look' always keeps its promise." -R. Cuccaro, Acoustic Live NYC & Beyond

“You guys are flipping *magic*! i've been listening to your album non-stop. it's filled with songs about love, hope, and peace -- and yet, instead of it making me want to throw people in front of trains… it has me *singing along*!”- Scott Wolfson / Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes

BONUS! (No really, Big bonus!)

ATTENTION - Multi-generational venues / settings: (Does your series or festival has a family stage/audience?)

Ira and Julia also have family / children's interactive programs, performing in 100's of libraries, schools, conferences and festivals across the nation, as well as Scotland Fringe Festival and featured on Jaker's: Storytellers Playhouse on PBS Kids! We dance the Flamingo Tango, celebrate Pollo Elastico, the Rubber Chicken of Freedom and hear stories of super heroes like Ruby, the Rescue Cow and Captain Tree. CDs are in full band/rock mode, but the shows have gone acoustic, the storytelling has musical accompaniment; entertaining to multi-generational audiences.